Book Title: Indian Antiquary Vol 11
Author(s): Jas Burgess
Publisher: Swati Publications

View full book text
Previous | Next

Page 157
________________ MAY, 1882.) CHINGHIZ KHAN AND HIS ANCESTORS. 185 In the Yuan-shi-lei-pen we are told that it was after the army had been divided into nine bodies that each of them unfurled a white banner and proclaimed Chinghiz as Khân. The author of the Huang-yuanand Rashidu'ddîn also assign 1206 as the year when Chinghiz was so named and not the earlier date. We reported the story of the origin of the name Chinghiz as told by the Persian writers in an earlier paper. I ought to add here that Rashidu'd-din in describing Gukju" tells us that he afterward became very tiresome, and used to come into the Imperial Ordu and make boastful and noisy harangues. Chinghiz, therefore, ordered his brother Juchi Khasar to kill him. He therefore gave him several kicks and put him to death. His father Menglik, who had married Chinghiz Khan's mother, picked up his son's cap, thinking it was a joke, and when he knew what was meant, he remained silent, and continued to be devoted to Chinghiz Khân. Three others of his sons were appointed commanders of Hazarahs." They were called Tulun Jerbi, Sugtu Jerbi, and Sutun. In regard to the nine white banners Schmidt suggests that they represent the nine örloks or boon companions of Chinghiz, each of whom was set over a division of his troops. He tells us that in a Kalmuk manuscript which he possessed describing a feast or drinking party in which Chinghiz and his nine örloks took part, and which is otherwise of no historical value, the names of these nine örloks are thus given :Go Mukhuli of the Jelair tribe, Borguhl Noyan of the Ugüshin, Shiki Khutuk the Tartar, Jelmi or Selmi the Uriangkhan, Jebe or Sebe the Bessed (really Yissud or Jissud), Torghon Shara the Sulduz, Tso Mergen the Jurjid, Khara Kiragho the Uirad, and Guidang Chingsang Taishi whose tribe is not recorded. The head of all was Külük Bohrji, (Boghorji) son of Nagho Bayan, of the tribe Arulad. The Altan Topchi and Ssanang Setzen report a Saga in which the nine örloks were prominent actors, and which I have not found elsewhere. Once upon a time we read Büka Chilger*o of the Taijut tribe treacherously dug a hole in his tent, and having covered it with felt, he then made a feast and sent an invitation to Chinghiz Khân in these words :-“When thou wert young we did not recognise thy worth and lived at strife with thee. Now we know that thou art not false, and that thou art a Bogda of the race of the Gods. Our old hatred is stifled and dead. Condescend to enter our small house." Chinghix accepted the invitation, but before going he Was warned by his mother, who warned him not to rate the crafty foe too lightly, and that a venomous serpent was not the less to be dreaded although it was fragile and weak in body, and she bade him be cautious. He told her she was right, and bade his brother Khasar have his bow"! ready, Belgutei to keep his eye on the drink, Khajikin was to see to the horses, Ochigin or Utsüken was to keep close to his side, the nine örloks were to enter the yurt with him, while his 309 lifeguards were to surround it. When these arrangements had been made Chinghix set out, and presently reached his destination. He entered the yurt, and would have sat down on the piece of felt covering the pitfall, but Ochigin pulled him aside, and seated him on the edge of the felt. Meanwhile an old wom:in came up and cut off the left stirrup, which hung from his saddle, and, according to the Altan Topchi, wounded him in the shoulder. A struggle ensued, Khasar counted his arrows, i. e., says Palladius, his arrows did not miss their mark, while Belgutei hit about him with basin to hold airak (i. e., sour milk). Ssanang Setzen says he hit the old wife on the legs, and drove her out, whereupon Büri Büke struck his horse with his sword. The Taijuts now gathered round when the nine örloks drew close to their master, and helped him to mount the white mare of Toktangha Taishi of the Khorchin (called Tokhtoghaku the Chorchin in the Altan Topchi). The struggle ended in the defeat and submission of the enemy. Toktanghu was afterwards rewarded with the title of Terkhân. He was the ancestor of the clan Darkhat." Müller in his history of Siberia reports anothor legend in which the nine örloks occur, and which he says was told him by a Mongol priest, who got it from Mongol and Tangutan (ie. Tibetan) Gaubil, 11 and 12. 11 The person who styled himself But Tengri, or the image of God, and whom he makes to proclaim Chinghiz and to give him his name. ..Erdmann, pp. 204 and 205; D'Ohason, vol. I. pp. 100-101. • Saanang Setzen, p. 381, note 30. # He is called Jingir Buka in the Altan Topchi. * The Altan Topchi says the quiver. * Seanang Setzen, p. 81; Altan Topchi.

Loading...

Page Navigation
1 ... 155 156 157 158 159 160 161 162 163 164 165 166 167 168 169 170 171 172 173 174 175 176 177 178 179 180 181 182 183 184 185 186 187 188 189 190 191 192 193 194 195 196 197 198 199 200 201 202 203 204 205 206 207 208 209 210 211 212 213 214 215 216 217 218 219 220 221 222 223 224 225 226 227 228 229 230 231 232 233 234 235 236 237 238 239 240 241 242 243 244 245 246 247 248 249 250 251 252 253 254 255 256 257 258 259 260 261 262 263 264 265 266 267 268 269 270 271 272 273 274 275 276 277 278 279 280 281 282 283 284 285 286 287 288 289 290 291 292 293 294 295 296 297 298 299 300 301 302 303 304 305 306 307 308 309 310 311 312 313 314 315 316 317 318 319 320 321 322 323 324 325 326 327 328 329 330 331 332 333 334 335 336 337 338 339 340 341 342 343 344 345 346 347 348 349 350 351 352 353 354 355 356 357 358 359 360 361 362 363 364 365 366 367 368 369 370 371 372 373 374 375 376 377 378 379 380 381 382 383 384 385 386 387 388 389 390 391 392 393 394 395 396